Landscape Architect Bureau of Environmental Services, City or Portland Oregon
Landscape architects have historically been trained to promote public access to open spaces, designing spaces for people to experience nature, whether in a city park or a forest hiking trail. Environmental restoration of damaged sites can be very beneficial to adjacent neighborhoods, providing needed open space in otherwise cramped communities. People are excited to see damaged sites rehabilitated and by accessing these sites can learn about the benefits of biodiversity and natural processes. However in the practice of restoration design, human and pet traffic through sites is typically limited or discouraged, as it can compromise sensitive plant communities and threaten endangered wildlife. Many of the federal and state agencies permitting restoration work require that there be no public access to the restored site. This discussion will explore issues of how and when public access might be appropriate and integrated into restoration design.
Hosted by the Ecology and Restoration Professional Practice Network (PPN)
